One of the joys of homeschooling is FLEXIBILITY! I love when the weather is just right (which happens a lot in Hawaii) and you can soak up sun and knowledge simultaneously, while taking your classroom outside. Today we ventured to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, otherwise known as Place of Refuge.

Pu’uhonua is an ancient legendary place (wahi pana), important in past and present Hawaiian culture. Hundreds of years ago, the Royal Grounds were the center of power, where only Hawaiian royalty (Ali’i) and those who served them, were allowed to stand upon. This was also during the time of kapu, sacred laws and beliefs, in which the sentence for breaking kapu was usually death. These laws could vary from casting a shadow on the ali’i, catching fish out of season, eating certain foods, etc. Your only chance of survival was to outwit and outrun your pursuers. If you could make it to the coast and then swim to the Place of Refuge, you could be absolved of your wrongdoing by a priest. The Pu’uhonua o Honaunau served the Hawaiians for hundreds of years until kapu ended in 1819.

During the recorded walking tour, our favorite stop was the Ka’humanu Stone (which somehow I didn’t end up taking a picture of). Legend holds that Queen Ka’ahumanu, the favorite wife of Kamehameha, was beautiful and admired by all the other chiefs. In a fit of jealousy, Kamehameha accused her of infidelity. Fearing for her life, she swam to Pu’uhonua and hid under a giant stone. In search of his wife, Kamehameha began burning down villages, where he thought she might be seeking refuge. It was eventually rumored that she may be at Pu’uhonua. Upon arriving there, Kamehameha still was unable to find his wife, until it was noticed that her favorite dog kept barking at a large stone. It was then that her whereabouts was discovered. Fortunately, she and her husband reconciled and only a few villages paid the price for the lovers’ quarrel.

Hawaii is as rich in culture and history as it is in beautiful weather. As we continue our travels in Hawaii, we are so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience all the natural wonders and hidden gems the island holds.